The Neonatal Lupus Syndrome, Autoantibodies, and Connective Tissue Disease

Excerpt

Factors transferred across the placenta from mothers with lupus erythematosus or whose sera contain detectable antibody to the soluble tissue ribonucleoprotein antigen anti-Ro (SS-A) contribute to the development of lesions in the skin (1) and heart (2) of their babies. This phenomenon has been called the neonatal lupus syndrome. The maternal factors causing these lesions do not appear to persist in the infant; the active lesions are self limited. The skin lesions resolve with complete healing and clearance of the rash. In the heart the active lesion heals but leaves permanent sequelae. These sequelae include endomyocardial fibrosis or fibroelastosis that